Introduction
Myriad USA is a 501(c)(3) public charity and fiscal sponsor dedicated to promoting effective gift-making and philanthropy overseas. As part of its mission, it provides core services to more than 1,200 nonprofits in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and beyond including helping these partners raise money from supporters in the United States. We chatted with COO, Ellena Fotinatos, about the organization’s journey and how switching to Every.org as its primary fundraising platform last year has helped it streamline operations and better serve its extensive global network.
The Challenge
Myriad USA knew a change was needed. Their fundraising platform was fine but hadn’t changed with the times. "It was the same one we had onboarded with ten years prior, and in ten years, it hadn't changed. It hadn't improved or offered more solutions," says Fotinatos. Payouts were infrequent. Partners had begun to abandon the fundraising platform and seek out alternatives. Costs increased, technology support was scattered in multiple directions, and Myriad USA’s staff was faced with an administrative headache.
The Solution
Fortunately, Myriad USA discovered Every.org through a partner organization that was using the platform to accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency donations. Impressed by the initial experience, Myriad USA expanded its use of Every.org to include credit card donations. It wasn’t long before the organization decided to migrate over 1,200 of its projects to the platform. Fotinatos says that Every.org's customer service and the seamless integration process were critical factors in their decision to adopt the platform entirely. She loves the flexibility of Every.org, which allows each Myriad USA partner to manage its online profile page, have a hosted dedicated donation page of its own, create fundraising campaigns in minutes, and access real-time donation data, all of which enhance their fundraising efforts.
Implementation and Onboarding
Fotinatos describes Myriad USA’s transition to Every.org as remarkably smooth. She highlighted the ease of onboarding and the platform's ability to mirror existing systems, which allowed partners to update their pages without starting from scratch. "It was so smooth. We really appreciated how much Every.org supported us and could mirror what we already had in place." This migration process saved their team considerable time and effort, making what would have been an impossible lift an efficient and stress-free process.
Connecting International Partners With U.S. Donors
One of the standout features of Every.org for Myriad USA has been its flexibility in catering to both large and small partner organizations. "We have partners using Every.org to get one or two donations a year because they're focused on larger donations…But we also have folks for whom their Every.org profile effectively serves as their U.S. website, and they've built it out," she explains. This flexibility is crucial for smaller international organizations, and it allows them to connect with U.S. donors more easily. "They love that they can control their Every.org profile URL. That's so important when it comes to communications," Fotinatos adds.
Safer, More Efficient Transactions
While Myriad USA's largest donations still come through traditional methods like wire transfers and checks, the platform has significantly increased the volume of smaller credit card and ACH donations. This shift has been particularly beneficial given the rise in check fraud, making digital transactions a safer and more efficient option. "We've noticed a higher volume of credit card and ACH donations, as many everyday donors are now giving through Every.org," Fotinatos shared.
“10 out of 10” for Customer Support
Fotinatos praised Every.org for its exceptional customer service, rating it a “10 out of 10” for availability and helpfulness.
“I've worked with many other platforms, and I truly appreciate your responsiveness and the direct access our partners have to your Support team. It takes the pressure off of us as a fiscal sponsor to have a direct line to solve any challenges swiftly.”
Impact and Results
For Myriad USA, the partnership with Every.org has provided substantial qualitative returns. In just two years, Every.org has platformed 1,200 of Myriad USA’s fiscally sponsored partners and has facilitated more than $5M in donations. The platform's ease of use, cost efficiency, and ability to offer innovative solutions at a fair price have strengthened Myriad USA's ability to serve its partners effectively. This has, in turn, allowed the organization to keep its fiscal sponsor fee structure low and focus on its mission. "Every.org is a wonderful solution. Our partners are happy. It's easy and cost-efficient.”
Conclusion
Myriad USA's partnership with Every.org has been transformative, enabling the organization to offer robust, flexible solutions to its partners while streamlining its operations. Fotinatos highlighted how Every.org's continuous improvement has been a significant advantage: “The way that Every.org is continuously improving is something we truly appreciate."
With a shared commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, Myriad USA and Every.org expect to make an even more significant impact in global philanthropy in the years to come.